probable

IPA/ˈprɒbəbl/
KK[prˈɑbəbəl]IPA/ˈprɑːbəbl/

probable — adjective

  • probablepositive
  • more probablecomparative
  • most probablesuperlative

1. having a strong chance of being true or of actually happening, based on the avai

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having a strong chance of being true or of actually happening, based on the available evidence or on what you already know — for example, when dark clouds gather, rain is probable.

Example

It is probable that Sayaka will get the job, since she has the most experience.

it is probable + that-clause for likelihood about the future

The most probable cause of the fire was a faulty electrical wire in the kitchen.

probable + noun (attributive position)

Common collocations
  • highly probable
  • most probable
  • quite probable
  • probable cause
  • probable outcome
  • probable explanation
  • probable result
  • it is probable that
Synonyms
  • likely

    more common in everyday speech; can be used with to-infinitive ('is likely to happen') where probable cannot

  • possible

    weaker than probable — suggests something may happen or be true but with less certainty

  • plausible

    focuses on seeming reasonable or believable rather than on statistical or evidential likelihood

Antonyms
  • improbable

    direct opposite; suggests something is unlikely to be true or to happen

  • unlikely

    less formal counterpart of improbable; preferred in conversation

Grammar Patterns

it is probable + that-clause

probable + noun

noun + be + probable

Usage Note

Probable suggests a stronger likelihood than possible but a weaker one than certain. Unlike likely, probable is not used with a to-infinitive (❌ 'He is probable to come' → ✅ 'It is probable that he will come'). It appears most often in formal or written English; in everyday conversation, likely is more natural. The most common sentence pattern is it is probable + that-clause.

Common Mistakes

He is probable to win the race.
It is probable that he will win the race.
Probable cannot follow the pattern 'person + be + probable + to-infinitive'; use 'it is probable + that-clause' instead.
There is a probable chance of rain today.
Rain is probable today.' or 'There is a good chance of rain today.
'Probable chance' is redundant; probable already implies a chance.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe how probable (likely) something is, but they differ in strength and usage. Probable is the strongest: it suggests clear evidence points toward an outcome, though it is not certain. Possible is the weakest — it means something could happen or be true, but the chances may be small ('It is possible, though not probable, that she will arrive early'). Plausible sits in the middle on believability but approaches probability from a different angle: it means something sounds reasonable or convincing based on appearances, not necessarily on hard data ('That excuse sounds plausible, but the real story may be different'). In practical terms, use probable for evidence-backed predictions, possible for open possibilities, and plausible for believable but unconfirmed explanations.

likely ↗possible ↗plausible ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • it is probable that
  • it seems probable that
  • the most probable reason

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Probable comes from the Latin word probabilis, meaning 'worthy of approval or provable,' which itself comes from probare meaning 'to test or to prove.' It entered English through French in the 1300s, first carrying the sense of 'worthy of acceptance or belief.' Over time the meaning shifted from 'deserving approval' toward the modern sense of 'likely in terms of chance or evidence.'

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun